Odd thing came up last night that I was not happy about.

Some of you may know from my train thread that I had my purse taken in Athens. This meant that a) I had not much cash, b) I had no means of getting more than I had by me in other currency, and c) the arrangement for paying the ship for shipboard expenses fell through since it depended on their link between my credit card and their ship card.

The first solution they suggested for c) was that I paid them in cash. I suggested I went online to my bank and transferred funds from their directly to their account, but they are not set up to do this. The Purser, a very nice and overworked lady, told me that they had a system of a promissory note which I could complete before leaving the ship, and also arranged and paid for a taxi to take me to the station.

Come yesterday when I asked for my passport, I was told I could only have it back by signing the promissory note. This turned out to be anything but what I consider a note. It permits them to distrain my goods if I do not pay (38USD) in the form which they demand, within 10 days (not working days), and pursue me through courts, expressed in serious legal language which would require advice to understand. It is a contract.

I have signed, having every intention of paying, as it seemed the only way to get my passport back. The thief in Athens has converted me into a person seen as having the intention of defrauding the shipping company, and I resent this strongly.

The Purser (very, very tired, but even so considerate and kind) explained that the payment does not have, as the document laid down, to be paid in Fort Lauderdale, but can be paid to the British office in Oxford - it does not state that. I intend to make payment there in person.

What is the legal position over the withholding of passports? It hardly seems reasonable. And over surrendering passports at the onset of the journey - this was presented as to do with our entering various states en route?

The company has not itself seemed to have a very strong policy about delivering the service promised in the contract between it and its passengers. There are, of course, terms and conditions, but these were only made clear following booking.

After leaving the ship and getting home tomorrow I may post more about that aspect.

Penny